The Prince Sultan Civilization Center project in Jeddah, a mixed-use development to the north of the city, is to cost $1.6bn (SAR 6bn), Makkah Governor Prince Khaled Al-Faisal has revealed.

Arab News reports that the project is set to commence work towards the end of 2013 and is expected to be completed in different phases over the next five years.

“Work on the project will start in the last quarter of this year,” Prince Al-Faisal said.

The centre will be built on a 2 million m² site on the Madinah Road, close to the Obhur Bridge to the north of Jeddah, and adjacent to King Abdullah Sports City.

The governor said that the project will include a 920-bed medical complex which will have a specialist hospital for cardiac, neurological and cancer diseases, a bone surgery centre, a diabetic unit, an eye hospital and a hospital for chronic diseases.

The health facility will also provide a dialysis centre, a naturopathic treatment centre, a maternity and children’s hospital and a university for health and medical sciences.

Beyond this the project includes construction of villas and furnished apartments, a commercial complex with showrooms and hotels, an international school, a sports centre, a mosque and various public utility services.

Muhammad bin Abdul Qader Al-Fadl, chairman of the board of directors of the centre, said the project was the brainchild of Prince Khaled Al-Faisal, adding that it would attract investment in various infrastructure projects, education, housing, tourism and trade.

“It will be a cultural landmark in Jeddah reflecting its progress,” Al-Fadl said.

The project also includes a centre for exhibitions and activities to be constructed on an area of 200,000 m². Local and international exhibitions will be conducted in the centre, said Al-Fadl, which will contribute to attracting more investment to Jeddah.

Further features include an international centre for conferences, the Prince Sultan Cultural Oasis, an open-air theatre, an educational park for children in addition to the Prince Sultan Library.

At a meeting to discuss the project chaired by Prince Khaled, the consultancy firm gave a presentation on the project and its designs, showing that there will be an artificial lake in the middle of the project as well as greenery.

In a previous statement, Prince Khaled Al-Faisal said the project was aimed at establishing a distinguished scientific edifice which includes cultural and recreational services to the Saudis and visitors.

He said that the centre will be located at the northwestern corner of King Abdulaziz International Airport.

The project is named after Prince Sultan, former crown prince and minister of defense and aviation, who died at a New York hospital following prolonged illness at the age of 80.